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Biography:
When eight-year-old Arden Myrin's parents asked her what she wanted for Christmas, the youngster asked to move to Hollywood and to be given her own agent. "I thought they were holding back my career," jokingly observes the Little Compton, RI, native, whose showbiz aspirations were fueled early on by MGM musicals and Broadway plays such as Annie and 42nd Street. Arden had several chances to act and write plays while attending the Friendship Academy (in Dartmouth, MA) and the Middlesex Boarding School (in Concord, MA). From there, Arden made a break with her Eastern upbringing when she attended Colorado College, a small liberal arts school in Colorado Springs, CO. She did not care much for academics, opting instead to complete her theater degree through various internships. One of them occurred in New York on "Late Night With Conan O'Brien," even though Arden admits that most of her time there was spent running the Xerox machine. She also spent some time in Chicago, IL, where she studied long-form improv at ImprovOlympic while working briefly as a standup comic. Although Arden enjoyed performing standup comedy, she viewed it as a way to break into acting, not as a full-fledged career. Even so, the experience proved to be somewhat of an epiphany for Arden: "That was the beginning. There was no going back then. I was sure then." Ultimately, however, Arden made her way back to Colorado to complete her degree, graduating as valedictorian. Now her difficult pursuit of acting success could begin in earnest.

After graduation, Arden moved to New York, where she appeared in numerous commercials, as well as an independent film (I Think I Do) and a TV movie (The Royale). Still, other New York jobs that she found herself working were considerably less glamorous. Like many other would-be performers before her, Arden waited tables; and at one point, she was so desperate for employment that she worked as a Santa Land elf at Macy's. "That was the low point," she later recalled. "There were people who had been elfing for 10 years and were still trying to get into acting. I thought, 'What am I doing?'" Determined to give a much-needed push to her acting career, Arden went to Paramount TV, where she begged the head of casting, Bonnie Finnegan, for a job. Finnegan, whom Arden describes as a "guardian angel," took on Arden as an intern; meanwhile, the Rhode Island native continued to perform standup comedy. Eventually, though, Arden decided that the time to move on had definitely arrived; and when casting season for sitcom pilots began, Arden headed for Los Angeles, CA.

Over the next five months in Los Angeles, Arden auditioned for several sitcoms. One of them, "Working," originally called for a woman in her thirties; and at the time, Arden was still in her early twenties. The show's directors, however, decided to rewrite the script for a younger cast, including former "Wonder Years" star Fred Savage. Arden felt that the pilot script for "Working" was the best that she had ever read; therefore, she could hardly contain her excitement when she was told that she had received the part of bubbly office worker Abby Cosgrove. Arden would remain on "Working" from 1997 until its cancellation in 1999. Along the way, she also received small parts in films such as In & Out and Woody Allen's Deconstructing Harry. Arden even returned to "Late Night With Conan O'Brien," this time as a guest. Unfortunately, the newfound success would not last: after "Working" was cancelled, the young actress would have to wait six years for her next big break.

From 1999 to 2005, Arden immersed herself in several entertainment projects. She performed improv at ImprovOlympic West and Groundlings, both in Los Angeles, as well as the Upright Citizens Brigade in New York. She accepted more small roles in films such as Kinsey, Christmas With the Kranks, Bubble Boy, and What Women Want. She did various guest television spots; among the notable series to feature her are "Friends," "Reno 911!," "Just Shoot Me," and "Kitchen Confidential." In 2005, still looking for a steady gig, Arden auditioned for "Saturday Night Live"; unfortunately, Amy Poehler was chosen over her. Nevertheless, Arden continued to pursue sketch comedy, an area of entertainment that she had always wanted to try. When "MADtv" came calling, Arden jumped at the opportunity to audition. Not only did Arden pass her audition for that sketch comedy series, but she was also hired as a regular cast member for Season 11. Although Arden continues to accept small roles in television shows and movies, "MADtv" marks a return to the level of success that she enjoyed while on "Working." Still, her current stint on "MADtv" is just icing on the wedding cake; for in December 2007, she married her longtime boyfriend, Dan Martin, a comedy writer originally from Long Island. Two East Coast natives now living the good life on the West Coast -- ah yes, things have indeed come full circle for Arden. Perhaps even bigger things are in store for this seasoned performer; after all, no one is holding back her career now.

Where are they now?
As of June 2008, Arden has been confirmed for Season 14 of "MADtv", which will be her fourth season overall as a repertory cast member. Arden is currently residing in Los Angeles with her newlywed husband, comedy writer Dan Martin.

Until the new season starts, please only post biography info about Arden in this thread. All other discussion should go in the Front Page Season 11 Update #3 thread.
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A. I am in the movies Kinsey and Christmas With the Kranks; both of them came out in November. Kinsey is the Liam Neeson movie about the sex doctor and Christmas With the Kranks is with Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis. I also did an indie, which is called Heart of the Beholder. I don't know when that one is coming out and I just did a pilot for Comedy Central, which if it get picks up, should come on after "The Daily Show" some time next year.

Q. Please tell us a little bit about your character Emily in the movie Kinsey.

A. I am part of a couple, this sort of a young farm couple, that goes to see Dr. Kinsey and (I haven't seen it yet, but from what I can tell from the script), but I was probably a virgin until I got married to this guy. We're newlyweds and things aren't going very well. I have all these misconceptions about sex and I think that Emily and her husband are full of so many wrong facts that we're the final couple that makes Dr. Kinsey realize that America needs to be better informed.

Q. Please tell us a bit about your character in Christmas With the Kranks.

A. I play a character named Daisy. I play a very very tan owner of a tanning salon that Tim Allen goes to when he is trying to get ready for their cruise. He brings Jamie Lee Curtis to try and talk her into going into the tanning bed. I'm super tan, like spray painted tan. I have weird raccoon eyes from the goggles and weird tan lines. I'm kind of really friendly to him and not as friendly to her, but it is a very funny part. I love my part!

Q. For your role, did you have to get a spray on tan or did they use makeup?

A. I've never done an old school screen test before, but we had to do two or three screen tests before I started shooting. I had to do like four days of self-tanner at home. I'm not very tan naturally so it was pretty crazy. It was four days of me putting on this self-tanner. My friend had to put it on for me. It was a three-step thing and I was hanging out with all the blinds shut in my house. I was hanging out in my living room because it was this weird tan stuff that sort of stains your skin. I had to stand up for an hour with all that stuff on me and wait for it to dry. You sleep in it and then you wash it off. It was a whole huge process and then I would get there and it was just my base tan! They would air brush me and then apply extra white areas for weird tan lines. It was crazy and really funny! I had to get long hooker fingernails, the acrylic ones with the diamonds on them. It was fun because it was just not how I normally look. I ruined a lot of towels trying to get the tanner off and I did ruin one set of sheets. You can only hang out standing with tanner on for so long before it is time to go to bed. It was like a science experiment, but I was the guinea pig.

Q. What was it about the film Kinsey that made you want to take part in it?

A. I usually do comic stuff. The movie was written and directed by Bill Condon who did Gods and Monsters and wrote Chicago, which was pretty exciting. I really loved Chicago and to get to work with him was very cool. Even within a sort of serious movie I have sort of a funny scene. It was very cool to get to work with Bill Condon and with Liam Neeson, just to see that it doesn't have to be the sitcom stuff from when you do comedy that you can do something straight and have it be funny.

Q. You guest starred on the show "Friends." What was it like being on such an incredible show?

A. It was cool! It was interesting! It was a show that I had watched a lot so it was exciting to all of a sudden be in the "Friends" apartment. I had watched it and it was very surreal to be on a set of a show that I had watched a lot. I called my brother and I was like I accidentally (during one of the rehearsals) knocked her in the head. I moved before she moved her head out and I called my brother from the trailer and was like, "Oh my God! I almost hit America's sweetheart in the head!" Everyone was very tight and it was very exciting. By the time I had done it, I think it was the seventh season, or the eighth season that they were so good at what they did that you just hope that you don't mess up. They didn't need to rehearse that much because they are so good and you are just praying that you can hold up your end of the bargain.

Q. You have gotten to work with so many amazing actors like Helen Hunt, Fred Savage and Liam Neeson. Who would you most like to work with in the future?

A. That's a good question! I would love to do a Wes Anderson movie. I loved Rushmore and Bottle Rocket. I'd love to work with Bill Murray who is hilarious. I had a little part in Deconstructing Harry, but I would love to work with Woody Allen again. I think Wes Anderson would be number one. I think Alexander Payne who did Election would also be cool to work with. As far as actors, I love Jennifer Coolidge because I think she is hilarious. I like Reese Witherspoon and Mark Ruffalo; I think he's a really interesting actor. I would also like to work with Spike Jones.

Q. What has been your favorite project to work on so far and why?

A. I had the best time doing this one series on the WB that I don't know if anyone knew it existed! It premiered the night that the war started so everyone was watching the Shock and Awe coverage. It was a show called "On the Spot" and it was an improv show. We'd have like Jack Black come on and Cheri Oteri, Andy Dick and Andy Richter. I played the singing maid named Caramel and Dweezil Zappa was our band. It was a sitcom that was half scripted and half improvised. It was completely out of hand, just filming it was so much fun. Mike Hitchcock who was in all the Waiting For Guffman movies played this crazy magician and Mindy Sterling from Austin Powers was there. It was insane! It was the most fun job that no one ever saw.

Q. You recently guest starred on an episode of "Reno 911." What was your experience like on the set?

A. They were so nice! I was intimidated! I was Ms. Nude Reno. That was around the same time that I got the tan part. It was really fun and it really is all improvised. They just sort of give you a vague idea of what the scene is and then they just shoot it a couple of times. People were so welcoming and nice. Thomas Lennon's shorts are so hilarious! I would love to do that show again.

Q. What inspired you to get into acting?

A. I always knew this is what I wanted to do. I was really inspired as a little kid. They would always show old MGM musicals on TV and when I pictured acting I sort of pictured like a 1940's hatcheck girl. I remember going to see Broadway plays like "Annie" when I was little and "42nd Street" and I sort of pictured this 1930's or 1940's vision of Hollywood. I always liked making people laugh. I just always knew this is what I wanted to do.

Q. What was your transition like from Rhode Island to Hollywood?

A. I actually lived in New York first. LA was a whole other planet! I lived in a couple different places; I lived in Chicago in college. I moved out here to be on "Working" with Fred Savage and I had no friends. I got the part from New York so I moved out here and all of my friends were in New York. It was hard in at first. It was exciting to have this great job, but I didn't know anyone. The first couple years were a little lonely, but now I love it. I have amazing friends, but it took a little while. I'd never been anywhere like it so it was a whole other planet.

Q. Do you keep in touch with people you worked with in the past?

A. I do! I just went to Fred Savage's wedding and Steve Hytner who was also on working, who was Bania on "Seinfeld" wrote a show here and we did it in New York and Chicago. I actually keep in touch with a lot of people. It's nice because you kind of gather with so many great, nice and funny people. I think that's one thing I didn't realize about LA; a lot of the people are really nice and warm. I'm sure there is a part of it that is super hip, but for the most part people are down to Earth.

Q. Do you have any advice for up and coming actors/actresses?

A. If this is what you always wanted to do, go for it! I never had a "B plan." I didn't go to grad school. I'm a huge believer in the school of internship. I was an intern for a casting director, I was an intern at Conan O'Brien and I was an intern at this improv place. I sort of feel like I learned a lot by working behind the scenes and just the people you meet, all the people I met at my internship, when I was ready they helped me out. I've actually ended up working for a lot of them since then. I also lived in Chicago for a little while. I think that's a great place to live, if you can't afford New York or LA. There are tons of great theater there and a lot of great improv. I started in New York and, if you can afford it, I personally think it is easier to start in New York because it's a smaller pool. That's just me, but some people might just want to go straight to LA. I liked starting in New York, it seemed some how more manageable. I also think you should get on stage as much as you can just to keep practicing so you are ready when your time cans. I wrote a lot of my own stuff, if you can't get cast in the school play than put on your own plays. The more you can do for yourself, it's amazing how people will want to jump in and help you and participate with you.

Q. What do you do in your spare time?

A. I draw and I have dinner parties with my friends. I hike and I like dancing, although my boyfriend hasn't learned. We're going to take dance lessons so he can learn how to dance. I wrote a show with my friend. I do improv every week, I read, go to movies a lot and make things.

Q. What would you like to say to your fans and supporters?

A. Thank you so much. Just doing this for a living has been such a dream, I just love people laugh. If I ever made anybody out there laugh, that's the greatest honor of all. I really feel like, in general, sometimes life is up and sometimes life is down, but it's important to follow your own heart. I'm just grateful for all the jobs I've had and any support that people have given. I hope that you have success in whatever dream you have too!

Season 11 of MADtv welcomes new cast member, Arden Myrin. Arden recently answered a couple of questions for MADtv.com. Here's what she had to say:

MADtv: Where did you grow up?
Arden: Little Compton, Rhode Island

MADtv: Who are two of your comedic influences?
Arden: Gilda Radner and Molly Shannon. I love Molly because her characters are so earnest and flawed. They seem to actually be trying really hard in their lives, even though they could explode at anytime. I also love how fearless Molly is physically and how her characters are all joyous. And Gilda was just so magical it was hard to take your eyes off of her. She seemed to be having such a good time performing that I just wanted to be doing what she was doing. She set the bar really high.

MADtv: What type of training have you been involved in? Any comedy troops or improv?
Arden: I studied long form inprov at ImprovOlympic in Chicago and ImprovOlympic West in Los Angeles, where I have been performing with a group called the God Squad every Friday night for years. I've also taken classes at the Groundlings and the Upright Citizen's Brigade. I wrote a one-woman show that I performed at the HBO Workspace in Los Angeles, and co-wrote and performed in The Rob and Arden Show at the Comedy Central Stage, ImprovOlympic Chicago and UCB Theater in New York.

MADtv: Have you been in any Movies?
Arden: Yes. Deconstructing Harry, Bubble Boy, Kinsey, Christman with the Kranks, What Women Want, Highway and others.

MADtv: Any television shows other than MADtv?
Arden: I was a series regular on NBC's Working with Fred Savage. I was also a regular on an improv show on the WB called On the Spot with Tim Conway. I have done guest spots on Kitchen Confidential, Friends, Reno 911!, Just Shoot Me and others.

I think Arden is funny and Crista is no longer Featured.When they announce the cast she is annouced as a regular full time Castmember.Now Arden is she the girl who is the blonde female cop who sounds and looks like a man in Reno 911 or am I mistaken her for another girl.Anyway she's funny.

I watched Kitchen Confidential, just to see if it was worth watching Arrested Development, and remembered that Arden was in it as "Wendy."

Who was Wendy? I watched the whole episode, but don't remember who Wendy was. Was she the hostess at the front? I didn't recognize anyone that looked like her... although we've only really seen her in wigs.

Wow. The only semi-funny thing she's done so far was the weather girl for Fox Sports. And that probably didn't take much work. She reminds me of one of those people that tries too hard to be funny and really just makes everyone cringe. I mean what was up with the convulsing in that Tank sketch and the Car Dealer/Preacher sketch? It's just awkward.

Beetlejuice And Arden Myrin From ''Bubble Boy'' Come In. 8/22/01.
Two stars from the new movie ''Bubble Boy'' came in this morning. Popular guest Beetlejuice and Arden Myrin both came in to promote the movie. Beetle was a little slow in getting to the studio so Howard got a little pissed off that there was a delay. He ended up arguing with Gary for a minute about the situation but got over it as soon as he started talking to Beetlejuice.
To test Beetlejuice's memory Howard brought in 3 women, one of which was Arden Myrin, his co-star in the movie. Beetle claimed that he had sex with all three of the women who came in. Howard had Beetle pick the one he thought was his co-star and he actually picked the right one!

Howard spoke to Arden for a couple of minutes about her career. She's been in a couple of other movies including ''Constructing Harry'' and ''What Women Want.''

Arden said when she met Beetlejuice on the set she was warned not to be ''too nice'' to him because he might flash her. She said all of the women on the set got that warning. She said in one scene Beetle grabbed a hand full of her breast when he wasn't supposed to. Arden also shared other stories about him acting weird on the set of the movie. He's not an easy guy to work with according to Arden. She said they had to have a guy feeding Beetlejuice his lines during the filming. He also forgot to hump someone's leg in one scene so the actor had to shake his leg and tell Beetle to ''hump my leg'' to remind him of what he was supposed to do.

Howard reminded us that months ago when they shot behind-the-scenes stuff with Beetle he was very depressed and upset that he was away from home. Beetle didn't seem to remember that and said that the tears he shed were all fake tears.

Beetlejuice had a fight scene with Vern Troyer, the guy who played Mini-Me in the ''Austin Powers'' movie, and Arden said he was very gentle. She said Beetle was afraid of hurting Vern so he was very careful during the fight shoot. Beet said he just had no reason to want to hurt the little guy.

Howard said that Arden wasn't wearing a bra this morning and her breasts looked very nice in the outfit she was wearing. Beetle was one of the few lucky guys who have copped a feel of those breasts.

Howard got a phone call from a guy who said Beetlejuice got kicked off an airplane because he was sitting in first class when he wasn't supposed to be there. Howard had to get Beetlejuice's manager Sean in to talk about the situation. Sean said he tried to get upgraded to first class but they wouldn't let him purchase the upgrade tickets. The one flight attendant told Sean in a very rude way to listen to what another person told him and just get into his seat in coach. Sean said he told Beetle that she was just being a bitch and tried to move him back to their seats. The flight attendant heard the ''bitch'' reference and told them they weren't getting on the plane. She then called the cops on them and had them removed from the airplane.

Howard wrapped up the interview and said that you can find out more about Beetlejuice and where he'll be appearing at JollyDwarf.com. He also said he had to thank the two other women who claimed to be Arden at the beginning of the segment, Missy and Tammy. We also learned from Sean that there's a Beetlejuice action figure coming out in December of this year. We should hear more about that when it actually comes out.